Machine for shaping tie beds



Oct. 14, 1958 Filed Sept. 28, 1953 J. R. RUSHMER MACHINE FOR SHAPING TIE BEDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 14, 1958 Filed Sept. 28, 1953 J. R. RUSHMER MACHINE FOR SHAPING TIE BEDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 14, 1958 J. R. RUSHMER MACHINE FOR SHAPING TIE BEDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 28, 1953 United States Patent MACHINE FOR SHAPING TIE BEDS John R. Rushmer, Amarillo, Tex., assignor to Fairmont Railway Motors, Inc., Fairmont, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application September 28, 1953, Serial No. 382,771

6 Claims. (Cl. 37-104) Thexpresent invention pertains to railway ballast grading apparatus and more particularly to a machine for shaping or reshaping the original tie beds for individual ties after old ties have beenremoved, in order to provide aproper-bed for the reception of the new ties..

As is well known, due to various conditions, railway ties deteriorate and must be removed from time to time and new ties inserted in order to maintain the track structure in a proper and safe condition.

Heretofore, certain machines have been devised for the purpose of providing or shaping a new bed for the reception of a new tie after the old one has been removed.

In one form ofmachine heretofore devised for forming or shaping a bed for a new tie, the aim is to prevent any disturbance of mold tie bed and to attempt to accurately shape a space or bed on which the new tie can be placed, in this way providing a perfect fit for the tie so that the new tie can carry the full load immediately.

According to the present invention no attempt is made toprevent disturbing theballast' below the old tie bed since it is thought that'improved results will follow by removing some ballast below the old tie bed.

When ballast has been in position for a long time, which is generally the case when a new tie-is required, a very considerable amount of fouling of the ballast occurs. Fouling aflects drainage, which as is well known, is one of the primary functions which ballast serves, in addition to-that of supporting the tie itself. According to the present. invention, when reshaping the bed a certain amount of the ballast is removed from under the tie and in this operation some separation and loosening of the ballast occurs. Hence, in replacing the ballast the drainage conditions under the tie will, if anything, be improved.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for removing the ballast in the shaping operation so that the ballast may be distributed transversely of the track or parallel to the tie bed so that after the new bed has been formed the ballast will be conveniently available for replacement under the tie in connection with the usual tamping operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted for movement along the railroad track so that it may be readily positioned, as necessary, to perform the operations of forming or shaping the new tie bed after the old tie has been removed.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a specially designed cutting head structure which facilitates the formation of the new tie bed.

Further objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings which disclose a practical embodirnen of the invention. 7 1

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the'machine with the digging elements in digging position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the track on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, being through a formed or shaped bed for the reception of a new tie.

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation of the machine with theelements in the raised position as for the deadheading of the machine along the track, or for moving from one position to another.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the hydraulic fluid conduits, valves, motors, cylinder and associated parts for use in operating and controlling the machine.

Genefal description of machine The machine includes a vehicle chassis frame mounted on the axles of the front and rear rail wheels. At what is here termed the front end of the machine is the digging mechanism and at what is termed the rear end is located the engine which drives the hydraulic pump which provides the fluid under pressure for operating certain hydraulic motors which converts the pressure of the fluid into rotary motion of certain shafts. By means of suitable valves and conduits these hydraulic motors can be caused to run in either direction so that the shafts may be driven in either direction.

The digging mechanism includes a horizontally disposed open frame made of channels. Its greatest dimension (or length) is parallel with the track ties, the ends of the frame projecting a considerable distance beyond the ends of the ties. Depending from this frame are a plurality of hangers in which the ends of shafts are journalled, there being two end shafts and an intermediate shaft. Mounted on each end shaft is a cylindrical drum and on the outer end of each end shaft is a sprocket for driving the same. Mounted on the intermediate shaft is a pair of drums, similar to those on the end shafts and fixed to the intermediate shaft at its middle, between the adjacent ends of the drum thereon, is a sprocket for driving the shaft. Each drum carries digging teeth which extend radially outward therefrom.

At the rear of the frame, which supports the digging elements, are laterally spaced pairs of uprights, the uprights being connected together at the top. Each pair'of uprights receives between them the front ends of a pair of upper and lower longitudinally disposed arms, the

rear ends of which are pivoted to the sides of the vehicle frame (chassis) and to standards rising from the sides of the frame.

Closer the front than the rear of the pairs of longitudinal arms are lifting risers, each pivoted to each arm and connected together at the top by a cross bar. Centrally of this cross bar and on the underside of the same there is pivotally connected thereto the upper end of a piston rod, the lower end of which is connected to a piston disposed in an hydraulic cylinder on the vehicle frame. By admitting hydraulic fluid under pressure to thecylinder below the piston, the piston rod is extended, thus lifting the cross bar and risers and thereby swinging the supporting arm structure upwardly. This, in turn, raises the frame carrying the digging elements. When the head frame is raised, the lowest point of any tooth on the digging elements is several inches above the top of the rails.. When these elements are in the lowered working position and have just finished shaping or forming a tie bed, the bottom of the tie bed for the new tie is several inches belowthe bottom of the ties. This provides a suflicient zone or space below the tie for tamping purposes.

Mounted on pedestals rising from the head frame are three hydraulic motors, one for each of the two end drums and one for the intermediate drum. By means of the valving associated with these motors and the hydraulic pump that is driven by theengine on the machine,

the hydraulic motors may be caused to run either forward or reverse. Each motor is connected by suitable chain and sprocket reducing drive whereby the sprockets on the drums are driven. Tlie two' e'nd drums are driven in the same direction, which is in a direction opposite that of the intermediate drums. This is so no matter in which direction the intermediate drums are driven, with the end drums running in a direction opposite the intermediate one, the digging reaction is counterbalanced, thereby resulting in a stabilizing action so that when working, tendency of the car to creep along the rails will be substantially avoided.

It will be understood that the machine will be positioned with the digging elements over the site of the old tie bed, the old tie having previously been removed. At this time the digging elements will be in elevated position. The digging head will then be lowered and due to its rotation, on engaging the ballast of the old tie bed, will remove suflicient ballast to form or shape a new bed for the reception of the new tie, whereupon the machine will be moved to different positions along the track where other tie beds are to be formed or shaped.

It is believed that this general description will facilitate an understanding of the specific mechanism disclosed.

Detailed description of the machine Referring now to the drawings, the improved machine comprises a vehicle having longitudinal frame members and transverse frame members 11 and 12, which frame structure is mounted on wheels 15 to move along the rails 13 and 14, which in turn are supported by the usual ties T.

Near the rear ends of the vehicle and on opposite sides outwardly of the vehicle frame, are vertically disposed members 16 which are secured to the side members of the vehicle frame. Pivotally mounted to the upper and lower ends of each of the members 16, at 17 and 18 are upper and lower pairs of longitudinally disposed arms 19 and 20 which form part of the structure for supporting the digging components of the device.

At the forward ends of the arms 19 and 20, at each side of the machine, are upright members 21, which are pivoted to the upper and lower longitudinal members 19 and 20 at 22 and 23 respectively.

At the front end of the machine and positioned in a generally horizontal position is a digging element carrying frame structure, designated as a whole by the refer-' ence character 25. The frame 25 is rectangular in plan, comprising the side members 26, 27 and end members 28 and 29 which cross-connect the members 26 and 27.

The frame 25 is supported by means of an inverted U-shaped framing structure comprising a horizontally disposed transverse upper member 30 and depending side members 31, 32, 33 and 34 which, in turn, are supported by forward extensions of the longitudinally disposed upper and lower arm members 19 and 20 respectively at each side of the machine.

The lower ends of the members 31, 32, 33 and 34 are suitably connected to the structure of the frame 25. The arrangement is such that if swinging movement is imparted to the longitudinal arm members 19 and 20 (on both sides of the machine), the frame structure 25 will be caused to move upwardly or downwardly therewith, as the case may be. Depending from the frame structure 25 is a plurality of bracket members 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40. A shaft 41 extends between the two brackets 35 and 36, being rotatably mounted in the said brackets. The shaft 42 extends between the brackets 37 and 38 and the shaft 43 extends between brackets 39 and 40.

On the shafts 41 and 43 respectively are mounted single drums 44 and 45, which are of the same length, whereas on the intermediate shaft 42 there is mounted two drum sections 46 and 47 respectively, each section of which is of substantially the same length as that of the individual drums 44 and 45.

Each of the drums 44 to 47 inclusive carries a plurality of digging teeth 50 which extend radially outward from the drums. As indicated, these teeth are placed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the drum, each tooth being of substantially rectangular shape in elevation, as well as in end section.

Mechanism for driving the digging drums Upstanding from the frame structure 25 is a plurality of standards 51, 52, and 53, on which are mounted hydraulic motors 54, and 56 respectively. As will be later explained, an hydraulic pump is provided, being driven by an internal combustion engine and whereby hydraulic fluid under pressure can be supplied to the various hydraulic motors to cause the operation thereof, under the control of the operator by means of suitable valves.

The motor 54'is adapted to drive shaft 57 and sprocket 58 secured thereto, which through chain 59, sprocket 60, countershaft 61, sprocket 62, chain 63, and sprocket 64 mounted on shaft 41 serves to rotate the drum 44.

In a similar manner the hydraulic motor 56 drives the drum 45 at the opposite side of the machine.

The divided drums 46 and 47 are driven by the single motor 55 through a similar chain drive, wherein the one final chain 65 drives the single shaft 42 on which the two drums 46 and 47 are fixed. It should here be stated that in the normal operation of the machine the two drum sections 46 and 47 rotate in one direction and the two outside drums 44 and 45 rotate in the opposite direction in order to counterbalance the digging reaction of the teeth. In this way the tendency of the car to creep along the rails during a digging operation is substantially avoided.

Preferably the central drums are driven in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. This serves to throw the excavated ballast forwardly of the machine, where it accumulates as a transverse pile between the tracks. This avoids danger of throwing the material into the mechanism carried by the car. When the central drums are driven in the direction stated then the side drums are driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. While the excavated ballast will thereby be thrown rearwardly, the side drums extend laterally outward of the car so there is little danger of this ballast engaging the mechanism which is carried by the car proper.

Means for raising and lowering the digger element supporting frame As explained above, the frame 25 moves with the arm members 19 and 20 on each side of the machine. In order to swing the arm members 19 and 20 upwardly and downwardly there is provided a yoke structure comprising an upper horizontal transverse member and the two side leg portions 71 and 72, which are upward extensions of the members 21 and hence are pivotally connected to the longitudinal arm members 19 and 20 at 2223.

It is obvious from the foregoing description, therefore, if the U-shaped frame structure just described is moved upwardly or downwardly, swinging movement of the frame 25 will be caused. For this purpose there is provided an hydraulic cylinder 73, having a piston 73F therein. Connected to the piston is a piston rod 74, the upper end of which is pivotally attached as at 75 to a pair of brackets 76, depending from the transverse member 70 of the U-shaped frame. By admitting fluid under the piston, the piston rod is extended upwardly, movement of the piston downwardly permitting the movement of the U-shaped frame in a corresponding direction. Thus, to raise the framing 25 and the digging mechanism carried thereby, pressure is supplied under the piston in the cylinder 73 and to lower it the piston is relieved of. such pressure, pressure being applied above thejpiston.

Means for supplying fluid pressure to various parts and for moving the car' along the rails The vehicle may be propelled along the rails by means of a fluid motor 80 and associated gear box, through chain 81, the chain 81 being suitably connected to the wheels 15 at the front of the vehicle.

Fluid under pressure for operating the hydraulic mechanisms is supplied from the internal combustion engine 82, which is located at the rear end of the machine. The engine 82 drives an hydraulic pump 83, see Fig. 5, which in turn is suitably connected to a reservoir 84, carrying an adequate supply of hydraulic fluid. The fluid pressure and return lines for the hydraulic motors 5'4, 55 and 56 and for the hydraulic cylinder 73 is controlled by means of suitable valves 85 positioned to be manipulated by the operator of the machine, as conditions require, by means of the levers arranged at the control panel 85P. The arrangements of the various conduits, motors, cylinder, pump and the like are schematically illustrated in Fig. 5. However, since it is believed that those skilled in the art to which this apparatus pertains, will readily understand such structure, it is not thought necessary to describe the same in detail.

It will be understood that after a new tie bed has been formed a new tie will be pushed into place under the rails. After the new tie has been positioned the removed ballast is placed under the tie and tamped in conventional manner.

It will be recalled that the digging elements deposited the removed ballast in piles extending laterally of the track i. e. in a direction parallel to the ties and also closely adjacent the digging site. Hence the ballast is conveniently available for replacement under the new tie.

I claim:

1. A railway tie bed shaping machine comprising a vehicle adapted to travel on the rails, said vehicle including a frame, means for shaping a tie bed, said means comprising a plurality of groups of digging elements rotatably mounted in spaced relation on an axis extending transversely of the direction of the travel of the vehicle, means carried by the vehicle for supporting the digging elements from the vehicle, means including transmission mechanism carried by the means for supporting the digging elements for rotating certain of the groups of digging elements in one direction and another group of digging elements in the opposite direction for the purpose of reducing the tendency of the vehicle to creep along the rails and means carried by the vehicle for raising the digging element supporting means from digging position to nondigging position.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which certain of the groups of digging elements are positioned for digging ballast between the rails, and others at the sides of the rails and wherein the digging elements positioned for digging between the rails are driven in one direction and the other digging elements are driven in the other direction for the purpose of reducing the tendency of the vehicle to creep along the rails.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which certain groups of digging elements are positioned for digging ballast between the rails, and others at the sides of the rails and wherein the digging elements positioned for digging between the rails are driven in one direction and the other digging elements are driven in the other direction for the purpose of reducing the tendency of the vehicle to creep along the rails and in which a common drive rotates the digging elements positioned for digging between the rails and a separate drive is provided for each group of digging elements positioned for digging at the sides of the rails.

4. A railway tie bed shaping machine comprising a vehicle adapted to travel on the rails, said vehicle including a frame, means for shaping a tie bed, said means comprising in combination a plurality of groups of digging elements rotatably mounted in spaced relation along aligned axes of rotation extending transversely of the direction of travel of the vehicle, supporting means carried by the vehicle frame and movable from digging position to non-digging position, separate means for supporting from said movable means a group of digging elements at each side of the rails for rotation independently of each other, other means for supporting, from said movable means, digging elements between the rails and for rotation independently of said groups of digging elements which are positioned at each side of the rails, means including transmission mechanism carried by said movable means for causing rotation of said groups of digging elements and means for raising and lowering said movable means between digging and nondigging positions.

5. A railway tie bed shaping machine comprising a vehicle adapted to travel on the rails, said vehicle including a frame, means for shaping a tie bed, said means comprising in combination a plurality of groups of digging elements rotatably mounted in spaced relation along aligned axes of rotation extending transversely of the direction of travel of the vehicle, supporting means carried by the vehicle frame and movable from digging position to nondigging position, separate means for supporting from said movable means a group of digging elements at each side of the rails for rotation independently of each other, other means for supporting, from said movable means, digging elements between the rails and for rotation independently of said groups of digging elements which are positioned at each side of the rails, means including transmission mechanism carried by said movable means for causing rotation of said groups of digging elements, means for raising and lowering said movable means between digging and non-digging positions, and means carried by the vehicle for propelling the vehicle along the track.

6. A railway tie bed shaping machine comprising a vehicle adapted to travel on the rails, said vehicle including a frame, means for shaping a tie bed, said means comprising in combination a plurality of drums 'rotatably mounted in spaced relation along aligned axes of rotation extending transversely of the direction of travel of the vehicle, each of said drums being provided with a plurality of digging teeth extending outwardly therefrom, supporting means carried by the vehicle frame and movable from digging position to non-digging position, separate means for supporting from said movable means one of said drums at each side of the 'rails for rotation independently of each other, means separate from the means for supporting said drums at each side of the rails for supporting the remainder of said drums between the rails and from said movable means, means including transmission mechanism carried by said movable means for causing rotation of said drums, and means for raising said movable means from non-digging position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,393 LeBleu Feb. 22, 1938 2,207,854 Foreman et al. July 16, 1940 2,601,752 Rose July 1, 1952 2,624,129 Steece Jan. 6, 1953 2,640,285 Kershaw June 2, 1953 2,697,887 Kershaw Dec. 28, 1954 2,777,220 Bates Jan. 15, 1957 

